It’s time to put the rumors to rest. Two Jeopardy! producers shut down speculation that contestants are told their competition categories in advance.
On this week’s episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, former champion Buzzy Cohen and Jeopardy! showrunner Sarah Whitcom Foss addressed rumors regarding the game show’s categories.
Cohen claimed that he was recently asked, “Do they tell you what categories to study?”
He said, “I don’t know how that rumor got started. It drives me crazy,” while Foss chimed in, “How does it still happen? There’s no study guide, people.”
The two continued to discuss the resources fan have to debunk the rumors themselves. They stated that co-host Ken Jennings has offered tips on mastering the categories, along with Cohen himself.
It was also said that Jeopardy! alum David Maybury from Season 37 released a guide — referred to as “The Call” — which breaks down the process from getting selected to appear on the show, to becoming a winner.
The guide even includes transparency on when the game show pays players who have won.
The conversation surrounding categories arrives after the new category Foodstock left viewers stumped. The category required contestants to combine the names of bands who played at the famous Woodstock music festival in New York with the name of various foods.
Prior to announcing the category clues, Jennings had to give an in-depth explanation of the category and even offered an example. He explained, “Each response here will be an original Woodstock band altered to include the name of a food.” His example was “Blood, Sweat and Pears,” and he called it, “a band I know you love.”
Just imagine being told to get a refresher on that before game day!
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